The Postal Service has a lot of information to share with customers during the holidays — and one group of employees strives to ensure every message is received loud and clear. The USPS holiday committee, made up of about 40 representatives from virtually every department in the organization, is focused this year on spreading the […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the 10 most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 9 is “Alarm reaction,” the story of Danita Brooks-Poindexter. The letter carrier was delivering mail in Watertown, MA, when she spotted smoke and flames at a house. As a bystander called 911, Brooks-Poindexter […]
Postal Service employes who want to change their health coverage or enroll in a new plan must act now. Open season, the annual period when USPS employees can make benefits changes, ends Dec. 11 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. This is the last chance most employees will have until next November to consider new health, […]
USPS-branded toys, apparel, home decor and collectibles are available for the holiday season. Most of the popular licensed products are under $100 and can be purchased from The Postal Store, which is part of usps.com, and other retailers. Honoring Mr. ZIP. Postal employees and customers can continue celebrating 60 years of the USPS mascot, who […]
I just finished reading “A new chapter,” the article about Jenny Lynch’s retirement. I was fascinated. I did not know that USPS has a historian. I wish Lynch well and I hope that the next person is as dedicated as she was to educating the public about the Postal Service. […]
The Postal Service has announced holiday plans for Post Offices and blue collection boxes. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: This year, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 both fall on a Sunday, when normal closures apply. There are currently no plans for limited hours on Saturday, Dec. 23, or Saturday, Dec. 30. There are no […]
I absolutely love “A Kid’s History of the United States Postal Service,” the book created by Jenny Lynch, who recently retired as the Postal Service’s historian. It has given me a new appreciation for our organization and a joy to be able to pass it on to the next generation. Thanks for all your hard […]
John J. DiPeri has been named Western Region vice president, a role he has filled on an acting basis since Oct. 1. He is responsible for processing and maintenance operations in 24 states and oversees 50,000 employees. DiPeri has previously served as Pacific Northwest Division’s senior processing operations director; district manager and plant manager in […]
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration of the 1941 attack, will be observed Thursday, Dec. 7. Postal Service facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff this day. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it to the half-staff position. […]
Employees can watch a Postal Service video to learn how to reduce their taxable income and save on yearly health and dependent care costs. The video, “2023 Flexible Spending Accounts,” is four minutes long and explains the different types of FSAs. It also offers tips on which ones might fit an employee’s current needs. More […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on keeping stress at bay and enjoying the season. The session, “Healthy Holidays,” will be held Dec. 6 at noon Eastern. Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will offer tips on exercise, food choices and making the holidays more enjoyable […]
Link is interested in writing about Postal Service employees who pursue interesting activities in their free time. In recent years, we’ve profiled employees such as Gregory Huff, an Edison, NJ, general clerk who enjoys dancing in his free time, and Jeff Kyer II, a Washington, DC, change management director who performs in community theater. Other […]
Rural Carrier Brandon White was driving along his Russell Springs, KY, route on a sweltering day in August when he noticed a customer lying on the ground in her backyard. White parked his postal vehicle and found that the woman had injured her ankle after falling. He called 911 and comforted her until an ambulance […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on the benefits of keeping a journal. The session, “Introduction to Reflective Journaling,” will be held Dec. 4 at noon Eastern time. Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health plans for federal workers, will offer tips and techniques to document emotions and reactions to stressful […]
The Postal Service has announced four additional stamp releases for 2024: • Dungeons & Dragons, marking the 50th anniversary of the role-playing game; • John Wooden, honoring the UCLA basketball coach; • Carnival Nights, celebrating the spirit of summertime fairs and carnivals; and • Ansel Adams, honoring one of the nation’s most renowned and influential artists. […]
To help Postal Service employees compare health plans during this year’s open season, the organization offers access to Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The guide has details about all plans available through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The comparison tool includes information on copays, deductibles, prescription drug costs, and whether […]
The Veterans Day video — highlighted in the “A salute to service” article — was an excellent presentation. Grateful for employees who have served in the military. […]
The “Paint and sacrifice” article highlighted a great way for the USPS artists to showcase their talent and express their gratitude to the military veterans who sacrificed for the country. I hope there will be more murals in the USPS facilities to salute the diverse USPS work force and show appreciation for their dedication to […]
A newly updated video about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program reminds Postal Service employees to conduct a health plan checkup during this year’s open season. The three-minute segment, “FEHB Health Plans,” encourages employees to evaluate their health care options to ensure they have the coverage they need. The video also explains how employees […]
Do you have a cool job for the Postal Service — or do you know someone who does? If so, Link would like to hear from you. We’re interested in shining a spotlight on employees with unique positions — the kind of jobs that may not receive a lot of attention but make important contributions […]
The Combined Federal Campaign, the federal government’s workplace charity drive, will celebrate International Volunteer Day on Dec. 5. The United Nations began the annual observation in 1985 to highlight the crucial role volunteers play in supporting and sustaining good causes around the world. Volunteering is an integral part of the Combined Federal Campaign, or CFC, […]
Thank you for the amazing video showcasing our veterans. They are all heroes among us every single day and it is so nice to see them recognized for their sacrifices and service. […]
The season for giving and making wishes come true has arrived. Beginning Nov. 20, Postal Service employees and customers can go to the USPS Operation Santa website where they can make someone’s holiday special in four steps: read, shop, wrap and ship. The site allows visitors to read letters from children and others who are […]
An updated video reminds Postal Service employees of the importance of the open season benefits enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 13 to Dec. 11 this year. The two-minute segment, “2023 Open Season,” notes that employees’ circumstances may change from year to year. For example, some employees may want to add a dependent to their […]
The Postal Service wants employees and contractors to know that fraudulent websites continue to pose a cybersecurity threat to the organization. Cybercriminals create fake websites that mimic legitimate sites to steal money or information. An example: The organization’s LiteBlue site has been spoofed using the fake www.liteblue-secure.com address. The legitimate LiteBue site is located at […]
The talent displayed by postal workers Dennis Bagonghasa, Norah Strebel and Shawn Thomas — who created murals honoring military veterans — is wonderful. Not only are the murals gorgeous, but inspiring and motivational. […]
Letter Carrier John Springer of the Northridge Post Office in Dayton, OH, recently took a test that saved another person’s life. Springer volunteered to be swabbed at an event seeking potential bone marrow donors. He soon received a call that he was a match for a patient in need. The Postal Service employee of almost […]
To help Postal Service employees compare health plans during this year’s open season, the organization offers access to Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The guide has details about all plans available through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The comparison tool includes information on copays, deductibles, prescription drug costs, and whether […]
The Postal Service is bolstering its efforts to safely identify, handle and deliver mailable hazardous materials. The organization is reminding all employees to always ask customers if a parcel contains anything potentially hazardous, and to thoroughly examine every box for hazmat markings. USPS has also improved its longstanding hazmat policies and procedures in the aftermath […]
The Combined Federal Campaign is a highlight of the season of giving for many Postal Service employees — and as with other forms of workplace giving, ethics rules apply. The campaign, also known as the CFC, allows federal employees and retirees to easily donate to the nearly 5,000 charitable organizations under its umbrella. It consolidates […]